The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) have developed surveillance definitions for health care-associated infection (HCAI) and specific types of infections in health care settings. Infections of the lower respiratory tract other than pneumonia can be diagnosed if certain findings are present.
Criteria for other infections of the lower respiratory tract – one or more of the following:
(1) pathogens cultured from lung tissue, pleural fluid or other lung fluid
(2) microorganisms seen on a smear from lung tissue, pleural fluid or other lung fluid
(3) lung abscess or empyema seen during surgery on the lung or pleura
(4) lung abscess or empyema seen on histopathologic exam of lung tissue or fluid
(5) lung abscess or empyema seen on a radiologic exam of lung tissue or fluid
If the patient also has pneumonia caused by the same organism then the case is classified as PNEU.
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